The New Zealand Ministry of Health recently issued a notice on its official website to announce the approval of a proposal calling for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to become a regulated profession.

The World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) offered its congratulations on the result.

The WFCMS supports countries in promoting TCM’s legislation and the sustainable development of the industry to benefit people’s health.

According to the notice, on May 19, 2021 the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee agreed that an Order in Council be made under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 to designate the Chinese medicine profession (including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and tui na massage therapy) as a health profession.

It also called for establishing the Chinese Medicine Council as the responsible authority appointed to oversee the health profession.

Nominations for members of the new Chinese Medicine Council will be sought in early 2022.

The proposal was submitted in October 2010.

The 13th World Congress of Traditional Chinese Medicine, co-hosted by WFCMS and the New Zealand College of Chinese Medicine, was held in Auckland, New Zealand in November 2016. Participants discussed TCM’s basic theories, new progress in clinical research, the industry’s development trend and the prospects of education, medical care and scientific research.

Xu Zhifeng, chairman of the New Zealand College of Chinese Medicine, said that the successful convening of the conference was of great significance for pushing the process of regulating Chinese medicine as a new profession in New Zealand.